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McCutchen exits with knee discomfort in loss

McCutchen exits with knee discomfort in loss

McCutchen exits with injury 2:15

9/27/12: Andrew McCutchen dives awkwardly on Daniel Murphy's fly ball in the seventh and is forced to leave the game with an injury

By Tom Singer
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MLB.com |

NEW YORK -- The Bucs had a late scare in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Mets, as center fielder Andrew McCutchen had to leave the game after injuring himself on a diving catch attempt in the seventh inning. McCutchen charged in for Daniel Murphy's sinking liner, but his lunge resulted only in the ball short-hopping into his glove.

It appeared as though McCutchen had landed on his knee during the play and the Pirates later announced that he had exited with left knee discomfort and had been evaluated and treated.

McCutchen recovered in time to throw to second for a force of Ruben Tejada, but stayed down on the ground as trainer Todd Tomczyk, trailed by manager Clint Hurdle, came out to check on him. Minutes later, the three men walked off the field together.

After the game, McCutchen seemed optimistic that the injury was not a serious problem.

"Doesn't feel good, but it's all right," he said. "I hit the ground pretty hard -- it was like hitting your knee into a brick wall. That's a hard field.

"But it'll be fine," added McCutchen, who hoped not to have to miss Friday night's opener of a three-game series in PNC Park against the National League Central champion Reds.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.